Meeting Destiny (Destiny Series)

by Nancy Straight

  Max made no gesture that he was in any hurry to leave and asked, “Well, what do you want to do now?”

  Max looked at me, really looked into me, his green eyes mesmerizing. When he did this, it was hard to breath. I knew he was upset with the situation when he confessed, “I wish I understood you better.”

  I leaned my head onto his shoulder, “What would you like to know? I’m an open book.”

  Another customer at the coffee shop looked up from his paper then quickly back down. He had been two tables away, but I hadn’t noticed him before. He furrowed his brow, looked in our direction again, back to his paper, back to us, as if he were arguing with himself silently. He finally made eye contact with me, hesitated briefly, and asked, “You look really familiar. Do I know you?”

  I smiled politely and told him I didn’t think so. I got a strange feeling when I looked at him - not like imminent danger or anticipation, just uncomfortable.

  He moved his attention back to his newspaper and looked as though he were going to dismiss it, then as if his internal argument finally had a victor, looked back at me. “I’m sorry, but you really are familiar to me. Do you work anywhere I would have seen you, maybe at a boutique downtown?”

  Max rolled his eyes. “She was involved in a robbery a few months ago and her picture was all over the newspapers and television.”

  “That’s right! That’s where I’ve seen you. You were at some fast food place and got shot!” He was so loud, it sounded like he was a contestant on a game show. Now that all eyes in the coffee shop were on me, I was definitely ready to get out of there. He continued in his louder-than-necessary voice, “Wow, well it’s a real pleasure to meet you.” He stood up from his table and walked over to ours. “I followed the incident in the news. I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you. You are a big time hero here.” He reached down and grabbed the ticket the waitress had left on the table, “Let me get this.”

  I was a little taken back by his zealousness, “No, that’s okay.” I tried unsuccessfully to remove the check from his hand, “We were just leaving.”

  “No really, I want to get it. It’s young people like you who restore my faith in humanity. I can’t tell you how much your story moved me.” He was a little over-the-top, but I had spent so little time in public the last few months, it was humbling to have a complete stranger say such nice things. His enthusiasm was overwhelming and made the uncomfortable feeling fade a little.

  Max seemed much more at ease with the stranger than he had with Paul. He pulled out the chair and motioned for the stranger to sit down, “Well, friend, do you want to join us?”

  “I don’t want to intrude. Are you sure you don’t mind?” His eyes darted between Max and me until we both nodded that we didn’t mind his company. “Well, I’m sure you don’t like to talk about the incident, but is it safe to assume you’re fully recovered?”

  “It doesn’t bother me. It’s not like it was some big life-altering event or anything. I just got shot. My leg’s healed.” I held out my hand in a gesture to shake his, “I’m Lauren, this is Max.”

  “I’m sorry, I invite myself over and I didn’t even bother to introduce myself. I’m Randy, Randy Newton.” He shook both of our hands, a firm grip but not overbearing.

  Max interjected, “Maybe it wasn’t life altering for you, but my life hasn’t been the same since.” He leaned over and took my hand.

  I laughed out loud and realized Randy wasn’t in on the joke. “Sorry, Randy, I should have introduced you to my hero. Max was the paramedic who kept my heart going that night.”

  Randy, enthusiasm oozing from him, “Well, now that’s a story to tell generations to come; if you two make a go of it, I’m sure your grandkids will love to hear about your first encounter! I can assume saving her life was a good introduction for asking for a date? That must be my problem: I can never find a damsel in distress to save.”

  Max squeezed my hand a little, “We’re always looking for volunteers. There never seems to be a shortage of people who need help. I do have to say that I am the only paramedic in town who has actually gotten a girlfriend because of the job. Most of the guys get dumped because of the hours.”

  Randy looked as if he were pondering the idea a little. “So, how does one volunteer if they have no formal training?”

  Max handed him a card, “I’ll ask my supervisor when the next certification classes are scheduled. If you’re serious, I’m sure we can get you in.”

  “Max, I would really like that. Here’s my number.” Randy pulled a grocery receipt from his pocket and wrote his number on the back. “Let me know when the next class starts. I should leave you two alone. I’m sure you have better things to do than hang out with some old guy in a coffee shop.” He signaled for the waitress to come over and handed her a twenty. “This bill’s on me,” then he looked back at us and insisted, “Max, Lauren, it really was my pleasure to meet you both. I hope to see you again.” He got up, tucked his newspaper under his arm and walked out the door.

  Much more lighthearted than we’d been even ten minutes ago, I realized Max was still holding my hand, “Well, that was a little strange.”

  “I liked him. Not many people go out of their way to say what’s on their mind. He seemed pretty genuine.”

  Although Randy was friendly and very upbeat, after he walked out the door, the discomfort I had been feeling seemed to go with him. Now that this stranger had put Max in better spirits, I didn’t want to take a chance and start a quarrel over nothing, “I guess you’re right.”

  I hated that uneasy feeling, but there were enough other things going on in my life, I decided not to waste any time thinking about some stranger who made me feel weird.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  The last couple days of school were monotonous. All my final projects were turned in, and the only thing left to do was study for exams. It was really just a series of review sessions in every class. I had considered cutting, but Rachael and Seth wouldn’t hear of it.

  I was walking to Seth’s car after my last class for the day when I saw my favorite black truck patiently waiting for me by the curb. Max leaned across the seat and opened my door for me. I climbed in, and it felt a little like being mauled; not that I minded, of course, but this was uncharacteristic of Max. He was very sweet and tender, always holding my hand, caressing my arm, touching my cheek with the back of his hand, but this was different. His kiss was deep and he held me tight. After thirty seconds or so and me consciously willing my lungs to breathe again, I finally gasped, “What got into you today?”

  Max smiled, “I missed you today, can you tell?”

  “I’d have to be having an out-of-body experience to have missed that. Is everything okay? Nothing happened today, did it?”

  “Happened, like what?”

  “Okay, Max, what happened today to make you miss me so much?” My mind always races when I have to speculate, and this was very much not like the Max who spent three hours with me every night before work.

  “You wouldn’t get it.” He tried to change the subject, “So where do you wanna go - I’ve got four hours.”

  A little frustrated with this dismissive answer, “What wouldn’t I get? Am I dense now?”

  “Can you just drop it. Most girls would be happy if they heard they were missed.” I couldn’t tell if the agitation in his voice was manufactured for my benefit or if it was genuine. “Nothing out of the ordinary happened. I talked to that Randy guy we met the other night. He’s got to be the most upbeat person I’ve ever met. I bet he could give motivational speeches if he wanted to.”

  “From the coffee shop? Where’d you see him?” I was a little puzzled by someone having such an impact on Max’s demeanor. The hairs on the back of my neck began to tingle; I don’t know what it was about him, but I didn’t want him anywhere near Max.

  “He found me first thing this morning, right after I got off work. One thing led to another and we ended up sitting and visiting for over an hour. We w
ent back into dispatch and I introduced him around. My boss said he’d do the training himself because we’re so short-handed. Randy’s probably still there.”

  Randy seemed very charismatic when we met him, but I really got the impression he was asking Max about his job just to be friendly. I hadn’t realized he was actually interested. It’s not like me to misjudge someone’s intentions.

  Creating enthusiasm in my voice that I didn’t feel, I asked, “Geeze, that’s great. How long does it take to get certified?”

  “Up to nine months through the community college or as little as five days of one-on-one instruction. He won’t be certified to do everything, but he could be a driver in five days and certified to do CPR. Are you thinking of a career change, too?”

  “Uh, let’s see…not a fan of blood, car accidents, train accidents, uncontrolled vomiting, or any number of other things you help people with.”

  “Speaking of plans for the future, you given any more thought to just taking off for a couple months?” I could tell from the way he asked the question he’d been thinking about our adventure.

  I couldn’t think of anything I would like better than just being with Max, having him all to myself: no saying goodnight so he could work all night, or waiting most of the day for him to recover from working all night. Of course I’d given it plenty of thought, but that voice that seemed to be creeping into my conscious more and more – didn’t want me to take a vacation, not yet.

  I couldn’t help but think my delaying our trip was somehow tied to Paul. How was I supposed to tell Max – I can’t go off with you right now because there’s a voice in my head telling me to help Paul – who you incidentally believe could be a double murderer. Yeah, there was no good response to that. “I think it is a great idea, but I don’t want to go right after graduation. Maybe in a couple weeks?”

  If he was unhappy with my delay, he didn’t show it. He still seemed pretty upbeat. “So a week from Saturday? It might be cool to spend more than three hours at a crack together.” Max clutched my hand and lightly brought it up to his lips.

  “You have no idea how much I would like that, I just . . . ” somehow I had to keep Paul’s name out of my reason for delaying, “want some time to hang out with a few friends. Most will be getting jobs this summer and, by the time we get back from our trip, they’ll be working or in grad school.” There - that was a perfectly plausible explanation, and not entirely a lie.

  The voice in my head spoke more clearly now, “Share your secrets with him, trusting someone that needs you is honorable. He will understand even if he does not agree.” It was Rewsna’s voice, and she obviously didn’t understand how touchy Max was about the whole Paul thing. “Do not keep secrets from your other half.”

  I concentrated on my response and thought as clearly as I could, “I am not keeping secrets. I am delaying a vacation so I can say goodbye to my friends, now butt out.” I must have thought loud enough because her voice didn’t reply.

  Max was happy with my answer, then surprised me again with, “Sounds good to me – I’m just glad you didn’t change your mind. I start my vacation after my shift Saturday night. I can go up to the farm; I’m sure Julio would love to have some help for a week or so. That’ll give me a chance to get everything ready, too.”

  “The farm, is that the place in Ridgeville you told my mom about? And what do you mean you thought I was going to chicken out?”

  He swung me around so we were looking eye to eye, “‘Chicken out’ are your words; I said ‘change your mind.’ But as long as you put it that way, I’m guessing you still haven’t even floated the idea past your parents, right? Are you planning on springing it on them the day I pull up out front with the horse trailer – or do you want me to give Molly a call and soften her up a little?”

  “I’ll tell them. I just don’t want them to get hysterical about it. If I don’t give them much notice, there won’t be much of a chance to be opposed to the idea.”

  “Lauren, you really have to give your parents a little more credit. They were our age once.”

  I started to argue, but my cell rang. “Hello?”

  “Lauren, it’s me, Paul. Are you busy?”

  Max mouthed the words – “Who is it?”

  “A little, can it wait?” The longer I stayed on the phone, the more likely Max would know who I was talking to, and I would get to see his mood dissolve in front of my eyes.

  “Sure, I’ve got that timeline you asked me to write down. Do you still want me to give it to you, or do you think I roll the dice with the police myself?”

  “Um, how about I call you back later?”

  “Oh, I get it - your boyfriend’s right there. Tell him I said hi.” The phone went dead – by trying to keep from agitating Max, now I had Paul ticked off. It’s like I can’t win. Rewsna’s voice boomed in my head again, “Stop trying to keep secrets that ought not be kept.”

  Max, out loud this time, “Who was that?”

  Without hesitation, “It was Paul. He’s got his timeline together and wanted to know if he should go directly to the police or if I should help him.”

  “I think he’s a big boy. You’ve done more than enough to help him. He should just do it himself.”

  Before I realized what I was saying, I answered, “Huh, I didn’t realize he had asked you what his next move was. Do you want me to get him back on the phone?” It’s strange how you can know that what you are saying is hurtful, or the look you are giving someone is close to a glare, but you are unable to put yourself in check in time to stop being a jackass. As soon as it was out and I was back in control – it was too late. Max let go of my hand and put the truck in drive without another word.

  Rewsna’s advice was a little softer this time, “Don’t shut him out. He can help you. He will understand.”

  I swallowed my pride, knowing I didn’t need his help, but believing Rewsna could only have the best of intentions. “Max, can you pull over somewhere so we can talk?” He looked sternly at me for a half a second but said nothing. Two blocks later he pulled into a parking lot. He parked the truck but left the engine running. He left both his hands on the steering wheel and looked straight ahead. His anger couldn’t have been more obvious if it were written on his forehead, but I deserved it. He would never talk to me like that.

  “I was out of line, and I shouldn’t have said that to you.” No change in his posture and he still wouldn’t make eye contact with me. “I think I owe you the absolute truth, hopefully you won’t leave me in this parking lot when I’m done.” This last statement got his attention. He leaned back in his seat and finally looked at me, but still said nothing.

  “You know how I told you about Rewsna?” he nodded. “How much did I actually tell you?”

  He blurted out, “I don’t know what all you keep from me, Lauren. Maybe you should try not keeping me in the dark like a fricken mushroom!” Wow, he was pissed.

  “You’re right. Okay here goes. Rewsna is somehow connected to us, I have no idea how. I haven’t talked to her since that day at the market, but I can hear her in my head. I know how that sounds - I’m not crazy. The day at the market she told me to keep to my path, and every time I start to veer off in another direction, like ignoring Paul when I know he needs my help, I can hear her in my head telling me to trust him, to put myself in his shoes…to help him.”

  I paused for a second, unsure how much to tell him, because realistically if someone told me they were taking direction telepathically from a voice in their head, I would have a hard time swallowing it. He didn’t say anything. After it had sunk in, I continued, “The truth is I feel responsible for his situation. I don’t think the police are looking for the real killer. At least if I’m helping him, the police may check his story – even if their motivation is to humor me.”

  I waited for an interruption that didn’t come, or a question, or some visual cue that Max was listening and in agreement that I was doing the right thing. Unsure how to proceed, I paused for a
few more seconds arguing with myself that he was either pissed at me for being a jerk or was in shock and wondering if he should call for a straight jacket.

  I hated not being able to read him the way I could everyone else. “I know Paul didn’t kill anyone. I went to the jail and talked to him. I’ve always been a human polygraph, and I know he was being honest with me. I know he hasn’t lied to me the whole time. Saturday at the mall when I was getting strange vibes from him, it wasn’t because he was giving them off, it was because I knew if I didn’t delay him at the mall he could very well have walked in on the McMasters being murdered and been killed as a result. Of course, I didn’t put all of this together until after he was in jail, but at least I did before he was convicted.” My voice began to rise as I could feel the panic consuming me. Max still didn’t say a word.

  I continued on, babbling at full speed, “But by the time I realized the real circumstances, he was arrested. The police were sure they had their murderer and my face was plastered all over the television again.” I could feel emotion welling up, in me trying to break free, “Max, please say something.” I waited, I counted to ten, then fifteen, then twenty. Looks like Rewsna was wrong. Telling him everything was too much.

  I opened my eyes and stared into those amazing green eyes. “You’ve said all that before. So what more can we do for Paul? You kept him from being murdered, you bailed him out of jail, and if what Rachael told you yesterday is still true, you got him a date.” Max paused long enough to let it sink in that he thought I’d already done enough. “I get that you have a way with people. I know you believe he’s been railroaded. But what if he’s tricking you somehow?”

  “He’s not.”

  “So, what if I were to tell you that there’s a reason his mom didn’t bail him out?”

  “You talked to his mother?”

  “No, but did you? You just take him at his word, without even questioning him? Lauren, you’re smarter than that.”